At one time a pace car for Dover Downs Raceway, this 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 convertible for sale on Hemmings.com has since gone through just a few owners, the latest of which shared plenty more of the car’s background on the actual listing for the car, including the story of how he confirmed its history and how he went about putting it back to its original configuration. From the seller’s description:

If you know anything about cars, you know that an old car sitting around is a car that slowly loses its integrity. That’s what happened over the years. Don’t get me wrong – I love my car – but this 4-4-2 W-30 convertible deserves to go to a better home than I’m able to give it. I’ve had my fun with it to the Nth power, so it’s time for a new caretaker who will respect this Olds in ways that I currently cannot.

You will see from the photos the numerous road scars that have accumulated over the years, such as the left rear fender, right side scratches, stress fractures on the hood, etc. One fender well is cracked due to a tire blowout. Motor is tired and may need a rebuild… or maybe not, but it needs to be gone over (torque converter is somewhat loose at the moment). Tranny is disconnected from the shifter so I sometimes need to change gears via the steering column. Top stopped working a number of years ago, but I suspect it’s a wiring issue rather than anything being broken. Interior was redone 20 years ago, but the door panels have fallen apart. And the front fenders are 1971-72 items (yes, I learned about those dimples about 10 years ago).

Here’s the skinny on my 1970 4-4-2 W-30 convertible:

THE GOOD * Correct white/blue/blue/blue scheme with matching engine and OW transmission * Original ram air breather * I have owned this car since 1987 * Yes, the correct F-heads, intake, and exhaust manifolds are on the motor * Air cleaner original as far as I know

THE BAD * I took apart the ventilation ducting and haven’t put it back together yet, which you can see in a photo or two. * Power steering reservoir is leaking * Distributor is not correct for a W-30. Neither is the carb, apparently being one of those restamps that was floating around. * Due to an accident with the first owner, the hood was cracked. I had it patched up and it was fine but stress fractures have begun to appear. * Dent on left rear fender * A few paint chips – ask me and I’ll tell you the story of each! * Large scratch on mid-right side of car * New gaskets possibly needed for exhausts, intake, and/or heads * Top stopped working but I think it’s a connection issue – just haven’t had time to go through the manual and figure out the wires

Agree, CJ. I know this is a desireable model, but that’s a lot of money for one in barely qualifies as driver condition in terms of mechanical function. A proper frame-off restoration will take another $120k or more if done by a professional shop. At least the seller is up-front about the car’s present-day shortcomings.

Here is a perfect example of a seller who has enough knowledge to know very little. He has seen that these cars sell for $100k+ so he thinks “man, I’ve got a gold mine sitting in my back yard under that old oak tree! All I need now is a new battery and wash and wax and I can pay off the house.” He figures a good Earl Schibe paint job will make his as nice as the one he just saw on daytime TV which sold for $125k, so a ‘fair’ price is, oh, say $95,000. He may get this from some schmuck who has heard of a 442 and just won the lottery, but there is almost zero chance he will get more than $20,000-$25,000 for that pile of potential. Still, kudos to him for his honesty, and perhaps the ‘right one’ will come along for his car.

I’m guessing if this was a 4-speed they would be asking even more for it; if that’s possible.. That seems like a pretty high price for a car that needs that much work, and couldn’t possibly be worth a ton more money than that if it were mint, mint, mint. But, I could be wrong.

I’m not sure what he (or his dad!) paid in 1993 for the restoration, but if he gets $95,000 his initial $1,800 investment about 25 years ago would yield a really nice return. A $95,000 purchase price with additional restoration costs should make this a highly questionable purchase to a collector. I know that doing the full (and correct) restoration needed before selling would lower his overall ROI, which is probably why he’s not doing it, but it would make this very desirable automobile easier for the buyer to lay down the cash that this investment grade vehicle deserves.

I was thinking $80K. His figure isnt far from what restored `70 W-30s go for, and this one needs a frame-off. The ONLY exception I could think of is if this car were the ACTUAL Indy 500 Pace car from that year, but it’s not. Nice dream but only a total fool will pay anywhere near what he’s asking, IMHO.

What an overpriced pile of nothing. Sure it’s a desirable model, but the combination of its fair condition and numerous missing parts makes it a $25,000 car AT BEST. And because it was the pace car at Dover, well, that means absolutely nothing. That was a nothing, run-of-the-mill event, which adds nothing to this car value. Obviously the owner is high on something to be asking 75% more than what the car is actually worth.

You guys are way low on this value. If memory serves me right (I am a former Olds executive employee from 68-73′) there were only two (2) quad (paint, stripes, convert. top, and interior) Blue 70′ W-30 s converts. were build. This high optioned one with an auto. and a very low optioned one with a 4 speed. The 4 speed one is currently for sale and I think it is over $120,000 right now. There is a rare color 70′ W-30 convert. with a lot of options that was bid to $230,000 a few months ago! Both cars received frame off restorations from professional shops.

Hey Dave, I know what you are saying and I think it is a good color combo too. He is too high priced for the moment, but others saying it has “one too many zeros” are much further off the mark.

It’s a shame someone will have-to buy those missing items – that’s really gonna smart !
I think it looks to be a decent base for an eaiser restoration tho’ ! (I’ve seen this car before – online only and probably before this buyer)

And to think my family sold their good driver quality 4 speed W-30 convertible for $3500. in the early 80’s…..
The Dover pace car provenance does something, but not nearly enough. Even though these were very low production cars, there are several on the market now that are much more realistic price-wise for their condition.

Rarity does not always translate into worth, and this car is a good case in point. If only two were ordered in this color combo, it’s likely because it wasn’t a suggested combo or (as I like to think) almost everyone found it ugly. And this 442 needs some work, quite obviously. Worst of all, it has a slushbox. This is a lot of money for not so much car; I’d rather put that amount into a W-30 hardtop with a 4-speed.

There have been several ones sold way over $100,000. One sold at Barrett Jackson for $178,000 two yrs. back . You guys have no clue what Olds cars are worth now! So rant on.

It is amazing the ignorance of “so called car people” who are centered on certain brands and have no knowledge of other bands that are rarer and are just now being recognized for there importance in the automotive world here in the US. I do not know any of the pervious persons background or knowledge, however I have been involved in this marque for a whole lot of yrs. and I am considered in the Olds community as pretty knowledgeable on W cars and it always amazes me how little some people know, when they really don’t. Flame on people!

Well Dave, Barrett Jackson isnt the real world and using that place as a barometer of what a car is worth is asinine. Auto, wrecked at one point, original engine gone, etc. You really think that car is worth 95,000? Plus the colors are not desirable. Id say 40,000 tops and that is pushing it.

Well from what I have witnessed in the past, this looks like it has been under a bit of water. I did some construction work in Gulfport after Katrina and I saw cars that had a lot of the same damage this car has. Perhaps its worth 10k as is…no more. Not too many usable parts remain even if you only want a driver!